Northwoods League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Northwoods League is an SCBA sanctioned summer baseball league comprised of teams of the top college players. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. Players are not paid so as to maintain their college eligibility.
Teams are run similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats and minor league specification baseballs. The Northwoods League draws more fans to its games than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League.
Several of the teams in the league play in ballparks formerly occupied by professional clubs from the Midwest League and the Northern League. The wooden bat circuit allows communities deemed too small for pro ball to continue to enjoy high quality, competitive baseball during the summer months.
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[edit] Teams for the 2006 season
The Rochester Honkers won the 2006 Northwoods League Championship, sweeping Thunder Bay in two games.<ref>"Local Names and News", Duluth News Tribune, 2006-08-20.</ref>
[edit] North Division
- Alexandria Beetles, from Alexandria, Minnesota
- Brainerd Blue Thunder, play at Mills Field in Brainerd, Minnesota
- Duluth Huskies, play at Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota
- Mankato Moondogs, play at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato, Minnesota
- St. Cloud River Bats, play at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Thunder Bay Border Cats, play at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
[edit] South Division
- Eau Claire Express, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- La Crosse Loggers, from La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Madison Mallards, play at Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin.
- Rochester Honkers, play at Mayo Field in Rochester, Minnesota
- Waterloo Bucks, from Waterloo, Iowa
- Wisconsin Woodchucks, from Wausau, Wisconsin
[edit] 2007 Expansion
- Battle Creek, Michigan at C.O. Brown Stadium
- Green Bay Bullfrogs from Green Bay, Wisconsin at Joannes Field
[edit] Notable Northwoods League Alumni
[edit] Major Leaguers
- Clint Barmes, Kenosha Kroakers, 1998, Waterloo Bucks, 1999
- T.J. Bohn - Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 2001
- Mike Burns, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 1998-1999
- Matt Cepicky, Waterloo Bucks, 1997
- Jermaine Clark, Kenosha Kroakers. 1995
- Chris Demaria, St. Cloud River Bats, 2000-2001
- Andy Dominique, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
- Andre Ethier, Rochester Honkers, 2002
- Jay Gibbons, Manitowoc Skunks, 1996-1997
- Tim Gradoville, Waterloo Bucks, 2001
- Curtis Granderson, Mankato MoonDogs, 2001
- Jack Hannahan, Mankato MoonDogs, 1999
- Justin Huisman, St. Cloud River Bats, 1998
- Bobby Kielty, Kenosha Kroakers, 1996
- Ian Kinsler, Madison Mallards, 2002
- Mark Lowe, Wausau/Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2002-2003
- Paul McAnulty, Mankato MoonDogs, 2001
- Pat Neshek, Wausau/Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2000
- Wes Obermueller, Wausau Woodchucks, 1995, Waterloo Bucks, 1996-1997
- Juan Pierre, Manitowoc Skunks, 1996
- Erasmo Ramirez, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
- Mike Rouse, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 1999
- George Sherrill, Kenosha Kroakers, 1997
- Ryan Spilborghs, Madison Mallards, 2001
- Jeff Weaver, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1995
- Josh Willingham, Austin Southern Minny Stars, 1998-1999
- Robb Quinlan, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1996, St. Cloud River Bats, 1998
- Ben Zobrist, Wausau/Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2003
[edit] Others
- Toby Gardenhire, Rochester Honkers, 2004, son of Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
- Tim Nettles, Waterloo Bucks, 1997, son of New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles
- Drew Saberhagen, Alexandria Beetles, 2005, son of former World Series MVP (1985) and two-time Cy Young Award winner (1985 & 1989) Bret Saberhagen
- Frank Viola III, Alexandria Beetles, 2004, son of Frank Viola
- Ned Yost Jr., Wausau Woodchucks, 2003, son of Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost
- Jason White, one of the best players honkers ever had.2006.
[edit] References
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